Alonso Homer Helps Mets Earn Extra-Innings Win Over Marlins
Pete Alonso erased a lot of mistakes.
Pete Alonso. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The slugger went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a game-tying, three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and Jesse Winker worked a go-ahead walk with the bases loaded in the 11th as the Mets beat the Marlins 6-5 Wednesday at loanDepot Park.
Huascar Brazobán earned his first career save against his former team, entering with two on and one out and getting Jonah Bride to fly out before striking out Otto Lopez to end the game.
New York ends its season-opening road trip at 3-3. The home opener at Citi Field is Friday vs. the Blue Jays.
The Mets trailed 4-1 when Alonso battled Calvin Faucher for nine pitches before unloading for his second homer of the series, a 415-foot drive to center. Before he connected, the Mets looked like they were headed to defeat due to shoddy defense for a second day in a row.
A day after the club’s gloves betrayed Kodai Senga, it did the same to Clay Holmes as Tyrone Taylor misread a fly ball and Mark Vientos overthrew the catcher trying to nail a runner at the plate.
With two on and none out in the third inning, Griffin Conine lifted a fly ball to left center that confused Taylor, who stutter-stepped as it dropped in a few feet away and was scored a single. Matt Mervis followed with a sacrifice fly, and that brought up Lopez with runners at first and third and one out.
Lopez grounded to third, and Vientos had a choice – try to start an inning-ending double play with the speedy Lopez running, or go home. He chose the latter, but his throw sailed over Hayden Senger’s head and the Marlins took a 2-1 lead.
Vientos was faced with a choice again in the seventh inning with a runner on third and one out. Lopez bounced a ball up the line, and Vientos fielded it. If he let it go, however, it might have gone foul. He instead threw it to first – he could have gone home – but that throw was not in time and the Marlins expanded their lead to 3-1.
Nick Fortes singled to right to bring home Lopez from second later in the inning, with Juan Soto booting the ball in right, ending any chance for a play at the plate.
In Tuesday’s loss, a Francisco Lindor error led to two unearned runs and a 4-2 defeat. This time, the Mets overcame the miscues.
Until Alonso’s blast, the Mets offense had failed to come through with a timely hit, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position up to that point.
Holmes gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two.
Senger made the first start of his career a day before his 28th birthday and got his first major league hit when he doubled to right. He won the backup catcher competition in spring training, getting the call to the big leagues after six seasons and 402 games in the minors.
Stat of the Game
Alonso became the first Met to hit three balls at 113 mph or harder in a game. He hit a 114.5 mph double, a 113.4 mph homer, a 113.1 mph double and a 107.1 mph lineout.
Player of the Game
Any guesses? Alonso is on fire. He went 5-for-12 with two homers, two doubles and eight RBIs in the series.
On Deck
The Mets are off Thursday. The home opener is Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. Soto will play his first game at Citi Field as a Met and Tylor Megill (1-0, 3.60 ERA) will face Kevin Gausman (1-0, 3.00 ERA). The game will air on SNY.
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